The cybersecurity industry is growing and facing new challenges with each passing day. Security Operations and Response (SOAR) and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions have become staples for cyber professionals in this fast-paced environment, but many are still unclear about what the differences between these two security monitoring tools are. Lets’s help you understand how SOAR and SIEM work, how they differ from one another, and which of these services is best suited to address your unique needs.
What is a Security Operations and Response (SOAR) System?
A Security Operations and Response (SOAR) system is a tool used by enterprises to collect, analyze, and manage security events and incidents. As the cybersecurity landscape evolves, the importance of SOAR solutions has increased. This is because SOAR and SIEM solutions allow for the processing of massive amounts of data, expedited investigation and analysis, and streamlined resolution efforts. Some of the key features of a SOAR system include:
Automated alerting and event management - Alerts and events are collected in real-time, reducing the time to detect and respond to a threat from days to minutes. Furthermore, an alert is triggered based on a set of pre-defined rules, which helps analysts focus on the most critical threats.
Investigation workflow - SOAR systems collect, store, and organize security data, providing an overall view of the complete investigation process. In this way, it makes it easier to complete tasks such as retrieving data and sharing information across different teams.
Forensic analysis - SOAR solutions store data, as well as provide tools for analysis, which helps with the investigation of security incidents and threats. This is accomplished by collecting data, storing it in a central location, and providing the tools and resources needed to analyze it.
What is a SIEM?
A Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system is a tool used by enterprises to collect, analyze, and manage security events and incidents. The main objective of a SIEM is to collect all security events in real-time, regardless of source, and centralize them for analysis. Additionally, event management capabilities are an important feature of SIEM solutions, allowing for the automated routing, correlation, and dispatching of these events. Some of the key features of a SIEM solution include:
Aggregation and ingestion of data - Data is gathered from different sources, and then combined and correlated to create a single view of the network.
Search and analysis capabilities - Data from various sources is gathered and centralized, allowing for the use of advanced search and analysis tools.
Event management and workflow - The SIEM solution is responsible for routing and managing events based on rules and conditions set by the security team. This helps streamline the investigation process and reduces the impact of false positives.
How Does a SIEM Work?
A SIEM collects data from a wide range of sources, including network devices, endpoints, and cloud applications. This data is then aggregated, correlated, and ingested in real-time within a SIEM solution. The data is then available to security teams via dashboards, alerts, and reports. A SIEM solution is generally used to collect data from the following sources:
Network devices - This includes routers, switches, and firewalls.
Endpoints - This includes computers and servers that are used to access the network.
Cloud applications - This includes tools such as VoIP, CRM, and email.
How Does a SOAR System Work?
A SOAR solution uses rules and triggers to collect and store data in a central location, such as a database or SIEM. This data is typically related to server- or firewall-related events, such as an abnormal increase in traffic to a server or a failed log-in attempt. It is important to note that a SOAR solution does not collect data from different sources, such as network devices. Instead, the data is collected from a central location and stored in a database. The database can be accessed by the analyst to view details about the data, such as the time and source of the event. The database also includes tools for analysis, such as searching for specific events and generating graphs and timelines.
When to Use a SOAR System vs. SIEM?
The key difference between a SOAR system and a SIEM solution is that the latter collects data from a wide range of sources. Because of this, a SIEM solution is generally more effective at identifying threats, as it collects data from a more diverse range of sources. However, the sheer number of events collected by a SIEM system can make it difficult to identify the most critical threats. On the other hand, a SOAR system collects data from a single source, such as a database or server. Because of this, it is generally more effective at prioritizing and resolving critical issues. Another important difference is that a SIEM solution is typically more advanced, as it can perform correlation and analysis on data from multiple sources. Ultimately, both SOAR and SIEM solutions have their strengths and weaknesses, and the best solution for your organization depends on the unique needs of your business.
Summary
In summary, Security Operations and Response (SOAR) systems and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems are two pillars of modern cyber security. A SIEM collects data from a wide range of sources, including network devices, endpoints, and cloud applications. A SOAR solution, on the other hand, collects data from a single source, such as a database or server. One key difference between the two is that a SIEM solution is generally more effective at identifying threats, while a SOAR system is more effective at prioritizing and resolving critical issues. Ultimately, both SOAR and SIEM solutions have their strengths and weaknesses, and the best solution for your organization depends on the unique needs of your business.
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